The waterfront landmark that Key Biscayne and Coconut Grove residents pass every time they cross the Rickenbacker Causeway could finally get new life. City of Miami voters will decide Aug. 18 whether to approve a public-private partnership to restore the Miami Marine Stadium on Virginia Key.
Under the proposed deal, Oak View Group, which operates under the legal name Global Spectrum LP, would invest up to $10 million to refurbish the 6,566-seat grandstand and its 326-foot cantilevered concrete roof. The city would pay Oak View Group a monthly management fee of $33,333 while collecting 93% of future event revenue and 85% of sponsorship revenue, according to the Coconut Grove Spotlight.
The vote falls on the same day as Florida's primary election.
A Modernist Landmark That's Sat Empty Since Hurricane Andrew
Cuban-born architect Hilario Candela designed the stadium when he was 27. It opened Dec. 27, 1963, on land the Matheson family donated to the city. During its heyday, the venue hosted powerboat races, concerts by Jimmy Buffett, Queen and the Beach Boys, and boxing matches. Elvis Presley filmed scenes for the 1967 movie "Clambake" there.
The city formally closed the stadium Sept. 18, 1992, weeks after Hurricane Andrew struck South Florida. Independent engineering studies later found the structure remained sound, but the closure held. The grandstand has sat empty for more than 33 years, its concrete walls layered in graffiti.
Earlier Bond Proposals Collapsed Before This Private Deal Emerged
The Aug. 18 ballot measure is the latest attempt in a long line of stalled efforts. In 2016, the Miami City Commission approved up to $45 million in revenue-bond financing, but the authorization expired. In June 2022, commissioners indefinitely deferred a $61.2 million bond vote. Workers began repairing damaged pilings in early 2023 at a cost of $2.4 million, but that was limited infrastructure work, not a full restoration.
The current proposal takes a different approach. Rather than tens of millions in public bonds, it leans on private investment from Oak View Group, a global venue management company. The Miami City Commission voted Feb. 12 to designate Oak View Group as the future operator through a competitive public process, according to Powerboat News. That vote was a required step before the question could go to the public.
Supporters launched a public campaign the week of July 7 to build support ahead of the August vote, CBS Miami reported.
Why the Vote Matters to Key Biscayne Residents Nearby
Virginia Key sits between Key Biscayne and the mainland, separated from the island by a short stretch of the causeway. A restored stadium could bring concerts, cultural events and waterfront activity back to a site the National Trust for Historic Preservation called "a modernist marvel" when it named the stadium one of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places in 2009. The trust designated it a National Treasure in March 2012, and it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.
Friends of Miami Marine Stadium, an advocacy group formed in 2008, and Restore Miami Marine Stadium, co-founded by original architect Candela, have pushed for the building's return for years.
Because this is a City of Miami ballot measure, only registered City of Miami voters are eligible. Key Biscayne residents who want to follow the outcome can check results after polls close Aug. 18.
Upcoming Community Dates
Aug. 18 — City of Miami referendum on Miami Marine Stadium management contract (Florida primary election day)
